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Microplastics Sabotage Ocean's CO2 Absorption, Study Warns

1/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics finds microplastics reduce the ocean's CO2 absorption.
Researchers from University of Sharjah report that microplastics disrupt the biological carbon pump by reducing phytoplankton photosynthesis and impairing zooplankton metabolism.
This disruption alters carbon cycling and raises greenhouse gas emissions when plastics degrade.
The study calls for global action on plastic pollution and climate change, urging better waste management and reduced single-use plastics.

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Story summary

A study in the Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics finds microplastics reduce the ocean's CO2 absorption.
Researchers from University of Sharjah report that microplastics disrupt the biological carbon pump by reducing phytoplankton photosynthesis and impairing zooplankton metabolism.
This disruption alters carbon cycling and raises greenhouse gas emissions when plastics degrade.
The study calls for global action on plastic pollution and climate change, urging better waste management and reduced single-use plastics.